Nursing Workforce and Safety

• HR236 (Lott, 122nd) – This legislation would create the House Study Committee on the Safe Staffing of Nurses in Georgia.
  • This bill has been assigned to the House Committee on Human Relations & Aging and awaits consideration
    • Call to Action: This bill will be heard in committee on Wednesday March 23, 2021 at 2:00pm GNA encourages nurses to contact House Human Relations & Aging committee (listed below) to request that this important legislation receive favorable consideration
      • Jesse Petrea – Chair
        • petrea@house.ga.gov
      • Tom Kirby – Vice Chair
        • kirby@house.ga.gov
      • John LaHood
        • lahood@house.ga.gov
      • Erick Allen
        • allen@house.ga.gov
      • Debra Bazemore
        • bazemore@house.ga.gov
      • Tommy Benton
        • benton@house.ga.gov
      • Josh Bonner
        • bonner@house.ga.gov
      • Roger Bruce
        • bruce@house.ga.gov
      • Charlice Byrd
        • byrd@house.ga.gov
      • Park Cannon
        • cannon@house.ga.gov
      • Emory Dunahoo
        • dunahoo@house.ga.gov
      • Spencer Frye
        • frye@house.ga.gov
      • Matthew Gamble
        • gamble@house.ga.gov
      • Dewayne Hill
        • hill@house.ga.gov
      • Rick Jasperse
        • jasperse@house.ga.gov
      • Eddie Lumsden
        • lumsden@house.ga.gov
      • Danny Mathis
        • mathis@house.ga.gov
      • Lauren McDonald
        • mcdonald@house.ga.gov
      • Donna McLeod
        • mcleod@house.ga.gov
      • Bee Nguyen
        • nguyen@house.ga.gov
      • Mary Robichaux
        • robichaux@house.ga.gov
      • Sandra Scott
        • scott@house.ga.gov

 

FY2022 Budget

• $150,000 for GNA-Peer Assistance Program Fund - aides nurse’s recovery from substance-use disorder and puts them back on the path of being gainfully employed. Peer-to-peer support groups, drug screen testing, and monitoring are all required of participants enrolled in the 12-week recovery program. Additionally, the GNA-PAP educates healthcare systems and institutions of higher education about substance use disorder, and the warning signs to recognize when their nurses need help.
  • The FY22 Budget was passed by the house but did not include funding for GN-PAP. The senate version of the FY22 Budget was passed this week and includes $75,000 for GN-PAP
    • Call to Action: GNA requests constituents of the FY22 conference committee (listed below) contact their Senator or Representative to request that funding for the GN-PAP be included in the FY22 State budget

House

• Appropriations Chairman Terry England:
  • england@house.ga.gov
• Leader Jon Burns:
  • burns@house.ga.gov
• Speaker Pro-Tem Jan Jones:
  • jones@house.ga.gov

Senate

• Appropriations Chairman Blake Tillery:
  • tillery@senate.ga.gov
• Leader Mike Dugan:
  • dugan@senate.ga.gov
• Butch Miller:
  • miller@senate.ga.gov

 

APRN BILLS

• HB430 (Powell, 32nd) this legislation would create a separate APRN license, allow APRNs and PAs to do Home health service orders and Allow the BON to collect nursing workforce data
  • This legislation was tabled in the House Regulated Industries Committee on 3/2/2021 so that the bill can be referred to GORRC (Georgia Occupational Regulation Review Council) which reviews all legislation relating to the licensure of professions

 

• HB369 (Powell,32nd) – This legislation would allow APRNs and PAs to write prescriptions for Schedule II in an emergency for an amount not to exceed 5 days. HB 369 also includes a section on allowing APRNs/PAs to authorize disability parking permits.
  • Passed the full house on Friday 3/5
  • Assigned to Senate HHS on 3/8 where it awaits consideration
    • Call to Action: GNA requests constituents of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee (listed below) contact their State Senator to request that this important legislation receive a hearing and favorable consideration
      • Ben Watson (R-Savannah) – CHAIR
        • watson@senate.ga.gov
      • Dean Burke (R- Bainbridge)
        • burke@senate.ga.gov
      • Michelle Au (D- Johns Creek)
        • au@senate.ga.gov
      • Gloria Butler (D- Stone Mountain)
        • butler@senate.ga.gov
      • Bill Cowsert (R- Athens)
        • cowsert@senate.ga.gov
      • Chuck Hufstetler (R- Rome)
        • Hufstetler@senate.ga.gov
      • Lester Jackson (D- Savannah)
        • jackson@senate.ga.gov
      • Sen John Kennedy (R- Macon)
        • kennedy@senate.ga.gov
      • Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta)
        • kirkpatrick@senate.ga.gov
      • Bo Hatchett (R- Cornelia)
        • Hatchett@senate.ga.gov
      • Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta)
        • orrock@senate.ga.gov
      • Larry Walker (R- Perry)
        • walker@senate.ga.gov
      • Sonya Halpern (D- Atlanta)
        • halpern@senate.ga.gov
      • Greg Dolezal (R- Cumming)
        • Dolezal@senate.ga.gov

Read the complete legislative update here.